Post-inflating machine for tires



NOV- 2, 1965 R. w. WRIGHT ETAL 3,214,790

POST*INFLATING MACHINE FOR TIRES Original Filed Deo. 10, 1959 6Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. ROBERT WILLIAM WRIGHT DONALD E. EmcsoN BYEDWARD B. ERICKSON WILSON Lawns & MC RAE Nov. 2, 1965 R. w. WRIGHT ETAL3,214,790

POST-INFLATING MACHINE FOR TIRES 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Dec.10, 1959 Nov. 2, 1965 R. w. WRIGHT ETAL 3,214,790

POST-INFLATING MACHINE FOR TIRES 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Dec.lO, 1959 Nov. 2, 1965 R.w.wR1GHT ETAL 3,214,790

POST-INFLATING MACHINE FOR TIRES 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed Deo.10, 1959 Nov. 2, 1965 R. w. WRIGHT ETAL 3,214,790

POST-INFLATING MACHINE FOR TIRES Original Filed Deo. lO, 1959 6Sheets-Sheet 5 I '1x 1 -llmlllmmlllll I l l `I le INVENTOR. ROBERTWILLIAM WRIGHT By DONALD E. ERICSON EDWARD B. ERICKSON WILSON, LEWIS 8|MRAE Nov. 2, 1965 R W, WRIGHT ETAL 3,214,790

POST-INFLATING MACHINE FOR TIRES 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 `Original Filed Dec.l0, 1959 Will lll 1 l l United States Patent O 3,214,79 POST-INFLATINGMACHINE FOR TIRES Robert William Wright, Detroit, and Donald E. Ericson,

Farmington, Mich., and Edward B. Erickson, Clearwater, Fla., assignorsof one-half to Firwood Manufacturing Company, Dearborn, Mich., andone-half to United States Rubber Company, New York, NX. Continuation ofapplication Ser. No. 858,775, Dec. 10, 1939. This application Apr. 5,1963, Ser. N o. 27 0,962 3 Claims. (Cl. 18 2) This invention relates todevices used in the post-inflation of tires. Post-ination is a processin which tires are inflated immediately after molding and held inflatedto cool the tire while the tire cords are in a stretched condition. Thisprocess minimizes tire growth when the tire is put into use. This is acontinuation of our copending application Serial No. 858,775 filedDecember l0, 1959, now abandoned.

During normal usage of a tire, the cord forming a portion of the carcasshas a tendency to stretch. This is particularly true with respect tonylon cord, and to a somewhat lesser degree with respect to other cordfabrics used in the formation of tire carcasses. Stretching of thefabric during use causes the formation of at spots on the tire when theWeight of the vehicle stands on the tire for an extended period. Thissituation is particularly aggravated in cold weather when at spots stayin the tire longer. If a tire is post-inflated, the cords are allowed tostretch before the tire is put into use and the problem of llat spots isminimized.

An object of our invention is therefore to provide an improved machinefor use in the post-inilation of tires wherein immediately after thetires lare ejected from the mold they are -inliated to substantiallyhigher pressure than their normal operating pressures to stretch thecord to such a desired predetermined degree.

Still another object of our invention is to provide an improvedpost-inflating machine adapted for use in cooperation with the tiremolding machine in such a manner that the tire may be automaticallymounted and subjected to predetermined pressures quickly after beingejected from the molding machine to stretch the tire while it is stillpliable due to the retention of heat therein, and to insure propercuring as the heat is dissipated fro-m the tire.

Another object of our invention is to provide an improved automaticallyoperable machine for use in the post-iniiation of tires wherein tiresejected from the molding machine are automatically mounted and inflatedto relatively high pressure, so that the cord may be stretched While inthe heated condition and prior to losing its plasticity as the heat isdissipated from the tire during the curing cycle.

Still a further object of our invention is to provide an improvedmachine for the postdnilation of vtires, which is of rugged constructionand which can be economically fabricated to insure rapid mounting andinilating of tires ejected from the molding machine before the heatembodied in the tire is dissipated.

Another object is to provide an improved machine for the post-inflationof tires which occupies little space and which is designed to permitworkmen to have ready access to the molding and post-inflating machinesto perform maintenance and repair functions.

Yet a further object of our invention is to provide an improvedpost-inilating machine adapted for use in conjunction with a tiremolding machine and wherein the tire may be mounted and inilated todesired pressures to permit a portion of the curing cycle of the tire toccur on the post-inlatng machine thereby speeding up the operation ofthe molding machine.

32H39@ Patented Nov. 2, 1965 Another object of our invent-ion is toprovide an ima ice 4 proved post-inating machine wherein automaticallyoperable side and front guide rollers are provided t-o direct a tireover a desired path of travel to an operative position with repsect to alower tire supporting ring, the tire ring automatically moving upwardlyinto engagement with an upper tire ring thereupon the rings are lockedin operative relation and air is automatically introduced under desiredpressure into the tire to stretch the tire to a desired degree as itcools.

Another object resides in the provision of a two-stage action of thetire ring members which provides for the proper seating of the `beads toinsure an air-tight contact before the ring members are locked inoperative relation for post-ination.

Another object resides in the provis-ion of a safety construction toresist the tremendous forces exerted as the tire is inilated to apressureabove the normal operating pressure.

A further object of our invention is to provide an improvedpost-intlating machine for receiving tires from a molding machine and toprovide adequate support for the tire -as it is moved by the force ofgravity and is guided by suitable rollers to an automatically operablechuck through which the tire may be subjected to predetermined airpressure to prestress the cords within the tire.

Still another object is to provide a post-inilating device for tireswherein a tire supporting and guide roller assembly can be pivoted to anon-obstructing position to permit ready access to the molding machineand postinating machine for maintenance and repair.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following descriptionand appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawingsforming a part of this specication wherein like reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the tire-supporting chuck members of apost-intlating machine embodying our invention;

FIGURE la is an enlarged plan view of one tire supporting chuck memberof a post-inating machine;

FIGURE 2 is a rear elevational view of the post-inilating machinedisclosed in FIGURE la;

FIGURE 3 is an end elevational view of our improved post-inflatingmachine;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 4 4 ofFIGURE 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 5 5 ofFIGURE 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary elevational view taken substantially on theline 6 6 of FIGURE 5 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional View taken substantially on the line7 7 of FIGURE la looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE S is an elevational view of the post-inilating machine with thelower portion of a leg removed to show the tire platform of the conveyortipped up and lower chuck member raised out of the way to permit accessof maintenance workers to the machine;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of the rack and pinion structure shown inFIGURE 7;

FIGURE l0 is a cross-sectional View of one tire-supporting chuck membershowing the tire bead-engaging members in Contact to insure the properseating and sealing of the tire beads even in the event of collapsedbeads; and

FIGURE l1 is a similar View with the tire inflated to separate thebead-engaging members to the locked posltion.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited in its application to thedetails of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of otherembodiments and of being practised or carried out in various ways. Also,it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employedherein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

In the molding of tires it is common parctice to position two moldingmachines side by side to mold two tires simultaneously. Consequently,our improved postinating machine is adapted to receive two tires fromthe molding machine and is designed to operate in seqeunce with themolding machine by quickly receiving tires therefrom and inflating themto the desired pressure to prestress the cords as they cool on thepost-inflating machine. While our machine is designed to simultaneouslyreceive two tires, we have described only one side of the machine whichreceives one tire. It will be apparent that the other side of themachine is symmetrical with the side which has been shown.

Referring now more particularly to FIGURES liz-3, and 8, it will benoted that our improved post-inflating machine for use in conjunctionwith the molding machines is designed in such a manner that ready accesscan be gained to the mechanism of the tire molding machine and to thecontrol and actuating mechanism of the postinating machine to performthe necessary maintenance and repair functions.

Spaced end frames (FIGURE 8) consist of substantially vertical channelmembers 14 at the front of the machine and slanting rear channel4members 16 at the rear. The channel members 14 and 16 are connectedtogether by upper support structure 18 having channel members 19 securedto the `front and back channel members 14 and 16 and a pair of crossmembers 21 (FIG- URE la) extending laterally between the end framemembers 10. The vertical channel members 14 and 16 of the end framemembers 10 provide a generally A- shaped end structure. Angle member 20(FIGURES l, 3) extends between and is secured to the lower ends ofchannel members 16.

A conveyor structure (FIGURES l, la) having front to rear end framemembers 22 and cross frame members 23 is pivotally mounted at 24 onbrackets 25 secured to the front channel members 14. Secured to theconveyor frame members 22 and 23 are a plurality of brackets, such forexample as 26, 28 and 30 supporting a plurality of pairs of spacedtire-supporting rollers 32, 34, 36 and 38 and an elongated roller 40positioned adjacent the rear of the machine.

The platform formed by the frame members 22 and 23 with their associatedbrackets and rollers may be removable or may be rotated about the pivotpoint 24 and shifted from the horizontal operative position illustratedin FIGURE la to a vertical inoperative position as shown in FIGURE 8substantially aligned with the channel members 14 thereby providingsubstantially uninterrupted space between front and rear channel members14 and 16. The platform is light enough so that this operation may beaccomplished manually. It will be understood that where the platform isremovable suitable guide supports may be employed to accurately locateit in the operative position.

The upper structure 18 is formed of structural members welded togetherto provide a rugged and strong support interconnecting the A-shaped endframe members 10. Secured substantially at the mid-section of the uppermember 18 is a power cylinder 42 (FIGURES 1, 3) having a piston rod 44connected at its bottom to a yoke 46 having forwardly and rearwardlyextending arms 47 and in FIGURE 3.

4. 49 (FIGURE 8) terminating in bosses 51 and 53 forming guides slidablymounted on vertically extended rods 55 and 57 secured in the end frames10 as best illustrated The yoke 46 has arms 59 (FIGURES 1, la, 2, l0,ll) extending laterally in opposite directions. The arms 59 supportlower chuck halves or rings 48 (FIGURES 10, 1l) having tire beadsupporting rings S2 adapted to pick up tires from the pairs of rollers32 to 4t) and elevate the tires to engage upper tire ring 56 formingpart of an upper chuck half, as best illustrated in FIGURE 2, carried bythe upper frame member 18.

When the yoke 46 is in the elevated position as shown in FIGURE 8 andthe frame members 22 and with their associated brackets and tiresupporting rollers are pivoted to the vertical position, a relativelylarge and unobstructed space is provided into which a workman may freelymove to perform the necessary repair and maintenance functions requiredto maintain the tire molding machine and this post-inating machine inoperation.

This improved post-indiating machine is positioned belhind an automatictire molding machine in such a position las to receive tires when theyare ejected from the molding mach-ine. The tires are guided into thefront of the post-inflating machine by short upright rollers 6l) and 62(FIGURES 1, 2) associated with the pair of short tire supporting rollers34 to position the tire laterally into alignment with the lower tirering members 52 carried by the lower chuck ring members 48 secured tothe yoke 46.

The ihorizontal member 20 interconnecting the rear ends of the A-shapedend frame members 10 is provided with a centrally disposed tire gateroller 64 carried by a pivoted support or clevis 120 opposite the centerof each of the lower chuck members 48. Each of these rollers 64, as maybe seen in FIGURE 2, is actuated by a lever 70 xed to the clevis 120 andpivotally connected at 72 to a link 74 actuated by a double acting powercylinder 76 to pivot the rollers 64 from their horizontal positionillustrated in full lines in FIGURE 2 to the vertical position shown indotted lines in FIGURE 3 to act as a stop to center the tires over thelower tire ring 52.

As may be seen in FIGURES 2 and 9, the roller 64 is horizonallyadjustable towards or away from the center of the lower tire ring 52 sothat in its upright position it will accommodate tires having differentdiameters. The adjusting mechanism comprises an axailly shiftable shaft114 which extends through the roller 64. The shaft carries a pinion gear115 at one end which is normally locked between a pair of spaced rackgears 116, 118 mounted in a T-slot provided in a pivotal clevis 120. Theclevis is rotatably mounted by means of a short shaft 136 journalled ina bearing carried by the member 134. The lower rack 118 is narrower thanthe upper rack 116 whereby when the rod and pinion gear are shifted, thepinion will engage the teeth of only the upper rack 116. Rotation of therod by means of the knob 122 will then move the gear 115 and shaft 114along the rack 116 and so move the roller 64 horizontally to the desiredposition. At this position the rod is shifted back to engage the pinionwith both racks and lock the roller in place.

As shown in FIGURES 1a, 2, 4, an arm 78 is secured to a block 124 bymeans of a screw 126. The block 124 is pivotally mounted in the clevisby means of a pin which extends through the opening 128. The block 124is adjustably fixed to the clevis by a set screw 132. The arm 78 extendsthrough a slot in the member 20 and terminates kat a point adjacent aswitch 81 (FIGURE 2) which is adapted to energize a valve to activatethe power cylinder 42 to raise the lower chuck when the tire is inplace. The arm 78 carries a cam 80 on its lower end which is adapted todepress the switch arm 82 of the switch 81 when the tire has reached theroller 64. The necessary rocking of the varm 78 is accomplished by theimpact of an incoming tire against the roller 64 which pivots therotatable clevis 12@ and attached arm 78 to the switch depressingposition. The arm 7S is spring loaded to return to its initial positionafter impact. The extent of arm 78 rotation is limited by the size ofthe slot in the member 20 through which the arm projects.

When the cylinder 42 has thus been activated the piston rod 44 connectedto the yoke 46 moves up, guided on the rods 55 and 57, whereupon thetire S4 is moved into engagement with the upper tire ring 56. The guide53, which is secured to yoke 46 has secured thereto a cam 88 adapted toengage a switch arm 90 positioned at the lower end of the power cylinder42 carried by the upper frame member 18 to actuate a locking mechanismcarried by the upper chuck rings 92 and 94 and adapted to engage andsecurely lock the upper chuck rings 92 and 94 to the lower tire rings52, when and only when the lower chuck member is in proper position, aswill be explained.

When certain types of newly cured tires are ejected from the press, thebead members tend to move together in a substantially collapsed state.In this condition it is difficult to properly seat the beads against theflanges of tire ring mem-hers 52 and 56, as these members approach oneanother. To overcome this difficulty, means are provided for moving thetire ring members to the position shown in FIGURE l0 to engage thecollapsed beads sufficient for them to form a seal capable of retainingair. When air pressure is admitted to the tire the tire ring membersmove outwardly away from one another to the locked position, as shown inFIGURE 1l. This insures proper seating of the beads on tire ring members52 and 56. The necessary mechanism to accomplish the above is asfollows:

When the upper and lower chuck rings engage, as shown in FIGURE l0, theaction of cam 88 on switch arm 9i) starts a timer (not shown) and alsoactuates a valve (not shown) which permits air to pass throughconnection 140 to a cylinder enclosing a spring-loaded piston 141. Apiston rod 108 secured to the piston 141 is positioned to engage an arm110 associated with an electrical switch 112 when the piston is raised.Upward movement of the piston actuates a locking plate 142 and alsocauses the rod 108 to engage the arm 110, which actuates the switch 112.The actuation of the switch 112 through a valve (not shown) causes thetire S4 to be inflated to a predetermined pressure through theconnection 143. The force on the rings 52, 56 due to the internalpressure of the tire 84 is greater than the force on the ring 52 due topressure in the cylinder 42. This permits the upper and lower rings `toseparate against the locks 142, as shown in FIGURE ll. Because the locks142 cannot be in the locking position shown in FIGURES l0, ll until thepiston 141 is raised, and because the switch 112 cannot be operated tointiate the tire until the piston is raised, the tire cannot be inflatedbefore the chuck is securely' and positively locked. The switch 112 andits related mechanism forms means responsive to the locking of the chuckfor intlating the tire. This provides a desirable safety arrangement,

At the end of the allotted post-inilating time, the air is released fromboth the tire 84 and the spring-loaded piston 141 by thepreviously-mentioned timer. When the separating force between the rings52 and 56 due to pressure in the tire becomes less than the force urgingthe ring 52 upward due to pressure in the power cylinder 42, the lowerring 52 moves upward from the FIGURE 11 position to the FIGURE l0position. This permits the corner of the lock 142 to clear the lockingsurface on the lower chuck ring S2 and this permits the piston rod 141to retract, thereby rotating plate 142 to unlock the chuck. With thedownward movement of the piston rod 108, the arm 110 returns to a normalposition, releasing switch 112, which reverses the action of powercylinder 42 to lower the processed tire onto the conveyor. This methodof unlocking assures proper release of the mechanism and eliminatesdamage caused by attempting to lower the chuck 6 before the tire isdeflated. The construction of this locking mechanism is more fullydescribed in copending application, Serial No. 797,705, led March 6,1959 (tile 2758). Referring to FIGURES 5 and 6 it will be noted that theyoke 46 when lowered engages a valve pusher 100 and depresses it againstthe resistance of a spring 102 to operate a valve 104 to maintain theroller gate 64 in the vertical position. When the tires have beenpositioned in proper relation with respect to the lower tire rings 52and the yoke 46 moves upwardly, the valve pusher 100 is releasedwhereupon the spring 102 lmoves the valve pusher 100 upwardly to tripthe member 106 of the valve 104 to actuate the double acting powercylinder 76 to move the roller gates 64 to the horizontal position. Onethe next part of the cycle of operation when the yoke 46 again comesdown, after releasing a pair of post-iniiated tires the movement of theyoke 46 continues to the lowermost position and there engages the Valvepusher 100 thereby compressing the spring 102. This actuates the valvemember 104 to energize the power cylinder 76 to move the gate rollermember 64 from the horizontal to the vertical position ready to receiveanother pair of tires.

Our improved post-intiating machine is adapted to receive a wide rangeof tire sizes. The upright rollers 60 and 62 for positioning the tirelaterally in alignment with the tire rings 52 may be adjusted relativeto each other to accommodate tires of varying sizes by means of a handwheel 96 (FIGURES la, 2) connected through a shaft 98 having left andright-hand threads thereon. It will be noted that the pairs of guiderollers 32 to 40 are of suitable length, and are positioned radiallywith reference to the lower tire rings 52, so that they will engagetires 84 of a wide range of sizes.

In operation, a tire is ejected from the molding machine and droppedonto a roller-conveyor adjacent the postintlating machine. The conveyoris inclined slightly, about 15 towards the post-inflating machine sothat the tire will continue its movement until stopped by theverticallypositioned roller 64. The tire is guided by the verticalrollers 60, 62 into abutment with the roller 64 whereby it is centeredover the lower tire ring 52.'

The impact of the tire against the roller 64 causes the roller to tilt,thus pivoting the attached arm 78 causing cam to actuate the switch 81.Actuation of switch 81 initiates operation of the cylinder 42 to carrythe lower chuck ring and tire upwardly into engagement with the uppertire ring 56. The chuck clamping mechanism is then actuated by the cam88, as previously described, to clamp the lower and upper tire rings 52,56 together and after they are securely locked the tire is inflated tothe desired pressure for a predetermined time. Upon expansion of thetire, the tire wall contacts a marking device 107. The marking devicemay simply comprise a raised letter or ring which makes a permanentimpression on the soft, warm rubber to indicate that the tire has beenprocessed. A suitable control device, either automatic or manual, isprovided to control the pressure/ time cycle. It is convenient toutilize a timing device to control this cycle. The timing device ispreferably set to a time somewhat less than the time cycle of the curingmold to insure continuous operation of the curing and inilatingprocesses.

At the expiration of the pressure/time cycle, the tire pressure isdissipated and the c-huck clamping mechanism released, causing the rod108 to be retracted. Retraction of the rod 108 operates the switch 112causing the cylinder 42 to lower the tire ring 52 and tire. The tirebead, which tends to adhere to the upper ring 56, is stripped from thering by the weight of the tire. The stripping is aided by making theupper bead shelf of lesser diameter than the lower bead shelf. When thelower tire ring and tire reach the conveyor, the tire is caught andstripped from the lower chuck ring by the rollers 32-40 while the chuckhalf itself passes through the conveyor and past the rollers to itslowermost position beneath the platform.

It will be remembered that the pivotal roller 64 has previously beenpivoted from its upright tire-blocking position to a horizontal positionas a result of the actuation of the power cylinder 76 by upward movementof the yoke valve pusher 100. When the roller 64 is in its horizontalposition, it is parallel to the long roller 40, in back of the longroller 40 and slightly below it, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. A conveyorroller 66 is in alignment with the: roller 64 and supported on themember 20 as shown in FIGURE la. The two rollers 62 and 64, when theroller 64 is horizontal, act as conveyor rollers to assist the tire inmoving from the long roller 40 out ofthe post-intlating machine. Thetire is, therefore, free to move over the platform rollers and onto amain take-away conveyor situated adjacent the post-inflation machine.The platform is inclined at a small angle, approximately 15" toward thetake-away conveyor to provide for gravity movement of the tire. Afterthe tire has moved off the platform, the roller 64 is pivoted to itsupright tire-blocking position and the device is ready to receiveanother tire from the curing mold. The upward movement of the rolleralso acts to push the ejected tire well onto the main conveyor in thedirection of tire flow.

It will be noted that time is required to permit stripping of the tireand its subsequent movement oif the platform before the roller 64 isreturned to its upright position. Sufficient time delay for tireejection is provided as a result of the time taken by the yoke 46 totravel from the stripping point to the point Where its valve pusher 100actuates the power cylinder 76 to raise the roller 64.

While out invention has been illustrated as applied tol the actuation ofa pair of tires it will be understood that it may be connected tooperate a single tire on either side as desired. Further, it is to benoted that where an operation, as the actuation of a switch, has beendescribed with respect to one-half of the machine the correspondingswitch must also be actuated on the other half of the machine before theoperation will proceed.

Having thus described our invention, We claim:

1. In a post inilation apparatus having a pair of ti-re engaging chucksadapted to sealingly engage the beads at opposite sides of a tire, fluidpressure means for moving said chucks toward and away from each otherbetween a fully opened position and a fully closed position, andconveying means operable when said chucks are in their fully openedposition for inserting and aligning a tire to be inated between saidchucks and actuating said uid pressure means to drive said chucks totheir fully closed position; the improvement comprising abutment meanson the opposed faces of said chucks for establishing the fully closedposition of said chucks at a spacing such that the tire beads areaxially forced toward each other to insure a seal between the chucks andbeads, an axial projection on one ofy said chucks, means defining acentral opening in the other of said chucks adapted to receive saidprojection to guide said chucks in movement to and from said fullyclosed position, lock Imeans movably mounted upon said projection andmovable from a normally maintained inoperative retracted position to anextended locking position, means operable to move said lock means fromits retracted position to its extended position when said chucks are intheir fully closed position, a locking shoulder on said other of saidchucks adjacent said central opening and engageable with said lock meanswhen in its locking position upon movement of said chucks from saidfully closed position to a partially closed position, inating meansoperable by movement of said lock means to its locking position forinflating the tire to a pressure sutlicient to force said chucks fromtheir fully closed position to said partially closed position againstthe action of said iluid pressure means, said lock means when engagedwith said locking shoulder being operable to prevent further opening ofsaid chucks beyond said partially closed position and said shoulder whenengaged with said lock means being operable to prevent movement of saidlock means to its inoperative position, means for deating said tireafter a predetermined interval of inflation to permit said uid pressuremeans to restore said chucks to their fully closed position, and meansoperable upon restoration of said chucks to said fully `closed positionby deflation of said tire for retracting said lock means to permit saiduid pressure means to return said chucks to their fully opened position.

2. In a post inflation apparatus as defined in claim 1; the furtherimprovement wherein said lock means comprises a lock member pivotallymounted on said one of said chucks for pivotal movement wherein one endof said member is shifted between said inoperative and said lockingpositions, the direction of movement of said one end of said member whenmov-ing from said inoperative position to said locking position beingopposite to that of opening movement of the other of said chucks wherebythe force applied by an inated tire tending to separate said chucks isapplied to said lock member in a direction urging said lock member awayfrom said inoperative position.

3. In a post ination apparatus as defined in claim 2; the furtherimprovement comprising lock actuating means responsive to movement ofsaid chucks from said fully opened position to said fully closedposition for shifting said lock member from its inoperative position toits locklng position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,291,506 7/42Shook et al 18-17 2,812,547 11/57 Duerksen et al. 18-18 2,824,336 2/58Weigold et al. 18-17 XR 2,866,500 12/58 George et al.

2,978,741 4/ 61 Soderquist 18-2 3,008,180 11/61 Woodhall 18-2 3,017,6691/62 Mikell.

3,039,839 6/ 62 Waters et al.

3,075,237 1/ 63 Soderquist 18-2 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,266,063 5/61 France.

I. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Examiner.

MICHAEL V. BRINDISI, WILLIAM J. STEPHENSON,

Examiners.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION Patent No3,214,790 November 2, 1965 Robert William Wright et a1.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patentrequiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read ascorrected below.

.Y In the heading to the printed specification, lines 8 and 9, for "Dec10, 1939" read Dec 10, 1959 Signed and sealed this 24th day of May 1966o(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER lttesting Officer Comigissioner of Patents EDWARD J.BRENNER

1. IN A POST INFLATION APPARATUS HAVING A PAIR OF TIRE ENGAGING CHUCKSADAPTED TO SEALINGLY ENGAGE THE BEADS AT OPPOSITE SIDES OF A TIRE, FLUIDPRESSURE MEANS FOR MOVING SAID CHUCKS TOWARD AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHERBETWEEN A FULLY OPENED POSITION AND A FULLY CLOSED POITION, ANDCONVEYING MEANS OPERABLE WHEN SAID CHUCKS ARE IN THEIR FULLY OPENEDPOSITION FOR INSERTING AND ALIGNING A TIRE TO BE INFLATED BETWEEN SAIDCHUCKS AND ACTUATING SAID FLUID PRESSURE MEANS TO DRIVE SAID CHUCKS TOTHEIR FULLY CLOSED POSITION; THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING ABUTMENT MEANSON THE OPPOSED FACES OF SAID CHUCKS FOR ESTABLISHING THE FULLY CLOSEDPOSITION OF SAID CHUCKS AT A SPACING SUCH THAT THE TIRE BEADS AREAXIALLY FORCED TOWARD EACH OTHER TO INSURE A SEAL BETWEEN THE CHUCKS ANDBEADS, AN AXIAL PROJECTION ON ONE OF SAID CHUCKS, MEANS DEFINING ACENTRAL OPENING IN THE OTHER OF SAID CHUCKS ADAPTED TO REVEIVE SAIDPROJECTION TO GUIDE SAID CHUCKS IN MOVEMENT TO AND FROM SAID FULLYCLOSED POSITION, LOCK MEANS MOVABLY MOUNTED UPON SAID PROJECTION ANDMOVABLE FROM A NORMALLY MAINTAINED INOPERATIVE RETRACTED POSITION TO ANEXTENDED LOCKING POSITION, MEANS OPERABLE TO MOVE SAID LOCK MEANS FROMITS RETRACTED POSITION TO ITS EXTENDED POSITION WHEN SAID CHUCKS ARE INTHEIR FULLY CLOSED POSITION, A LOCKING SHOULDER ON SAID OTHER OF SAIDCHUCKS ADJACENT SAID CENTRAL OPENING AND ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID LOCK MEANSWHEN IN ITS LOCKING POSITION UPON MOVEMENT OF SAID CHUCKS FROM SAIDFULLY CLOSED POSITION TO A PARTIALLY CLOSED POSITION, INFLATING MEANSOPERABLE BY MOVEMENT OF SAID LOCK MEANS TO ITS LOCKING POSITION FORINFLATING THE TIRE TO A PRESSURE SUFFICIENT TO FORCE SAID CHUCKS FROMTHEIR FULLY CLOSED POSITION TO SAID PARTIALLY CLOSED POSITION AGAINSTTHE ACTION OF SAID FLUID PRESSURE MEANS, SAID LOCK MEANS WHE ENGAGEDWITH SAID LOCKING SHOULDER BEING OPERABLE TO PREVENT FURTHER OPENING OFSAID CHUCKS BEYOND SAID PARTIALLY CLOSED POSITION AND SAID SHOULDER WHENENGAGED WIHT SAID LOCK MEANS TO ITS INOPERABLE TO PREVENT MOVEMENT OFSAID LOCK MEANS TO ITS INOPERATIVE POSITION, MEANS FOR DEFLATING SAIDTIRE AFTER A PREDETERMINED INTERVAL OF INFLATION TO PERMIT SAID FLUIDPRESSURE MEANS TO RESTORE SAID CHUCKS TO THEIR FULLY CLOSED POSITION,AND MEANS OPERABLE UPON RESTORATION OF SAID CHUCKS TO SAID FULLY CLOSEDPOSITION BY DEFLATION OF SAID TIRE FOR RETRACTING SAID LOCK MEANS TOPERMIT SAID FLUID PRESSURE MEANS TO RETURN SAID CHUCKS TO THEIR FULLYOPENED POSITION.